Oral Answers to Questions

Alice Macdonald Excerpts

Wednesday 21st January 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

We are working with the sector to put in the necessary support. I remind the hon. Lady that 7,000 pubs closed on the Conservatives’ watch, and she did not say a word about it.

[Alice Macdonald (Norwich North) (Lab/Co-op)]

Q15. Norfolk is a dental desert, which is causing real suffering for my constituents. I welcome Government action so far, including 21,000 extra urgent emergency appointments, but we are the only region without a dental school. The University of East Anglia is ready to open one. Can the Prime Minister set out what more we will do as a Government to tackle the dentistry crisis? Will he back our calls for a new dental school in our region?

[The Prime Minister]

Since day one, my hon. Friend has fought for her constituents on this issue, and I pay tribute to her for that. I agree that the University of East Anglia would be an excellent candidate for any future additional funded dentistry places available. We are also reforming contracts and making sure that dentists spend more time working in the NHS, delivering thousands of extra appointments to fix the failure we were left with.